Shall We Look for Another?
Matthew: The King and His Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 36:51
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· 7 viewsYour unoffended reception of the Lord Jesus by faith brings blessing. These blessed ones find great privilege in the kingdom of God.
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2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,
14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Review the Big Picture of the Gospel of Matthew
1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
In Matthew 5-10, Jesus demonstrated His teaching and deeds to all.
So far Matthew’s narrative has focused primarily on Jesus himself.
Though the amazement of both disciples and crowds has been noted.
Now Matthew looks more fully at people’s response to Jesus’ ministry, ranging from the glad recognition of the “little children” (Matthew 11:25) to the sinister charge of collusion with Satan (Matthew 12:24).
In chapter eleven the opposition to Jesus is implicit and in chapter twelve the opposition is explicit.
Jesus promised that opposition would come, so it makes sense that opposition occurs in Matthew 11-12.
The Reception – An unimpressive Savior encounters unmet expectations.
The Reception – An unimpressive Savior encounters unmet expectations.
John the Baptist’s Estimation of Jesus
John the Baptist’s Estimation of Jesus
John who had already witnessed to the Lord Jesus in John 1:35-42, said…
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
John knew that the One who was coming after him would be the Christ.
He knew that the person after him would be the Messiah.
But Jesus didn’t meet John’s expectations.
This witness will surprisingly be filled with confusion.
Confusion likely because Jesus does not line up exactly with John’s expectations of what the Messiah will be.
John may have had any number of things in his mind about what the Messiah would be like.
A political champion.
A strong ruler, that would bring in God’s kingdom by force.
Or maybe John was surprised by how Jesus interacted with the sinners of His day.
Expectation are Powerful
Expectation reveal how we think things will happen.
They reveal what we believe about the world.
They reveal what we believe about another person.
The Request – Shall We Look for Another? (Matthew 11:2-3)
The Request – Shall We Look for Another? (Matthew 11:2-3)
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples…
John hears of Jesus’ deeds and they surprise him.
Notice the word “the Christ” because it has become so normal to refer to Jesus’ title as Christ it seems strange from Matthew’s gospel.
He’s surprised by the nature of the Messiah.
He’s surprised that the Messiah isn’t quite what he expected.
So he sends his disciples to question Him.
3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
Notice what John is asking,
“Are you the One who is to come?”
It’s another way of asking,
“Are you the Messiah?”
3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting?”
“Are you the One who will deliver Israel from captivity?”
“Are you the One who will make all things right?”
The alternative for John is to look for another.
Should we continue to wait for the revealing of the Messiah?
I think it should be unbelieving assuring to know that John who Jesus describes as the greatest man ever born of a woman has his doubts.
Sitting in the jail cell and hearing reports of the Messiah and thinking,
“Maybe I got it wrong.”
“Maybe there is someone else that is coming and I missed it.”
John’s response is a human response because frankly he doubts his own ability.
He knows that he makes mistakes and maybe this was just one big blunder.
We need to examine our own expectations of the Lord Jesus for a moment.
“Sunday morning in America is the greatest hour of idolatry in the whole week. Why? Because most people who are even worshiping God, are worshiping a God they don't know. They're worshiping a god that looks more like Santa Claus than the God of Scripture. They're worshiping a god that is a figment of their own imagination. They created a god in their own likeness and they worship the god they've made.” —Paul Washer
Suffering – “I’m really questioning my faith in the Lord Jesus because of the suffering I’m walking through.”
Ethical Demands – “Jesus would never demand that I live this way!”
A sure-fired way to know what expectations a person has of the Lord Jesus is to hear the way they respond to, “Jesus would never _________.”
Some expectations are good and right.
Some expectations are Biblical and helpful.
Some expectations are damnable.
The Reply – Blessed are the Unoffended. (Matthew 11:4-6)
The Reply – Blessed are the Unoffended. (Matthew 11:4-6)
Jesus assures John though…
4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
There is a dual focus for Jesus: the Words and the deeds.
Listen to the Words but pay attention to the confirmation of the authenticity.
Sign-posts for the Messiah
Sign-posts for the Messiah
Sign posts are not irrefutable evidence for the Messiah, but it was evidence to prove the Scriptures and faith was necessary.
Faith was necessary to see the sign posts and believe the Scriptures.
5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
All of these things are the signs of the Messiah.
All of these things are the sign-posts that point to Yahweh’s deliverer.
Happy is the man who is not offended by Jesus.
Happy is the man who is not offended by Jesus.
6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Happy is the man who is not “offended” (Gk: σκανδαλισθῇ) or “repelled” or “takes no offense at me” (NET).
John the Baptist in a small way seems to have “stumbled” over the Messiah.
His stumbling was not as severe as others.
But there is something we can learn from this.
The posture of John the Baptist even in seed form represents a posture of skepticism and questioning.
Your unoffended reception of the Lord Jesus by faith brings blessing.
Your unoffended reception of the Lord Jesus by faith brings blessing.
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Recognition – More than a Prophet. (Matthew 11:7-15)
The Recognition – More than a Prophet. (Matthew 11:7-15)
Jesus’ Estimation of John the Baptist
Jesus’ Estimation of John the Baptist
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
Jesus says essentially,
“You didn’t just go for the scenery!” (France)
John the Baptist lived in the wilderness.
Just north of the Dead Sea where the Jordan River flowed into it.
This area is the desert and John like other OT prophets lived his life in the wilderness.
Scrupulous in fasting and outstanding in purity.
Many probably thought of John the Baptist,
“This man was awesome!”
“He was truly a prophet!”
Recognized as the last chapter of Old Testament prophecy.
Recognized as the last chapter of Old Testament prophecy.
8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
It wasn’t for a rich and famous person they went out into the wilderness, but to see a prophet!
The general agreement in Jesus’ day is that John was a prophet.
But Jesus goes further.
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
Jesus here refers back to Malachi 3:1.
Anytime the OT is quoted in the New Testament, it’s critical that we understand what is being quoted.
The word Malachi, means “Messenger” and he serves as God’s witness to the people of God.
Malachi was likely written during a period of time that the temple had been rebuilt in Jerusalem (Likely 445 - 433 BC) by the exiles that returned from Babylon.
Though the temple had been rebuilt there was great expectation around the realization of God’s kingdom.
The logic went,
“The temple has been rebuilt, so God will usher in His kingdom any day now!”
Now what happens when expectations run high?
The higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment when the expectations aren’t fulfilled.
Great disappointment led to unfaithfulness in the face of financial challenges (Malachi 3:10-11), an impure priesthood (Malachi 1:6-2:9), and a myriad of issues.
But great expectation leads to grumbling and complaining.
One particular complaint was surrounding Yahweh’s justice.
17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
They were essentially saying,
“If there is a God, why is there so much evil in the world?”
“If God is good, why is there so much evil?”
But notice how Yahweh answers them in this…
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.
Yahweh promises to send His messenger or “Malachi” before them all.
This messenger will prepare and make ready the way of Yahweh.
Yahweh will be the One the messenger is preparing.
The Lord’s Faithfulness to His Promises.
We must never forget that the Lord is faithful to the promises that He has made.
The promises may not come to pass as quickly as we might expect.
They may not happen in the way we think they will.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
But we can take it to the bank, they will happen.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,
14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
Recognized as the last messenger “Elijah” to prepare the way.
Recognized as the last messenger “Elijah” to prepare the way.
Notice that this is what Jesus quotes to the hearers about John the Baptist.
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
The messenger that Malachi anticipated 400 years before the time of Jesus, has come.
And Jesus points to John the Baptist and says,
“This is that messenger!”
Jesus actually goes further to say that…
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
Jesus flips the normal order “law and the prophets” to be “the Prophets and the Law” to emphasize the prophetic nature of what John is fulfilling.
John is the last page in the history of Old Testament prophecy.
All of the prophets up until John the Baptist spoke about what was to come.
But John is the hinge that separates Old and New Covenant.
He is the crease in the book that anticipates the next page of fulfillment.
John the Baptist spoke about what was to come, but everything after will begin to fulfill what was spoken.
Not only that, but as Malachi 4 says.
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Much like Elijah in the Old Testament the kingdom has always advanced violently.
It’s probably best to see the kingdom advances with divine power, but violent men attempt to seize or attack it.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.
Through figures like Herod attacking John the Baptist.
Like the prophets of Baal with Elijah, violent men have always been opposed to the God’s coming kingdom.
John is a foretaste of what is to come.
Recognized as the greatest man born among women.
Recognized as the greatest man born among women.
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.
John the Baptist is described as the greatest man that has ever been born.
Jesus says of him that nobody greater has ever existed.
John the Baptist preached about the coming kingdom.
He spoke of righteousness and the need of repentance and faith.
Although he preached of these things to come, he never tasted them in this life.
All of the Old Testament saints spoke and prophesied as the Lord revealed to them, but they never tasted in this life.
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than him.
Recognition of the least in the kingdom greater than John.
Recognition of the least in the kingdom greater than John.
How could this be?
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
It’s at this intersection that shows the oldness of the old covenant and the newness of the new.
What John only spoke of, even the lowliest most insignificant Christian tastes of.
A seemingly insignificant Christian that doesn’t know deep theology.
A seemingly insignificant Christian that has never been to seminary.
A seemingly insignificant Christian that is known in the kingdom of God is greater than the greatest man who ever lived.
In our carnal minds, we think of greatness as something we achieve.
Now we could stand back from this and think,
“John the Baptist, he is such a great prophet!”
But the way we measure greatness is not the way Jesus measures greatness.
Jesus doesn’t measure greatness through performance, excellence, or strength.
Jesus says that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist.
Greatness in the kingdom of God has more to do with God’s electing love then it does our status or performance in his kingdom.
It’s actually his loyal love that makes us great in his kingdom.
Your unoffended reception of the Lord Jesus by faith brings blessing. These blessed ones find great privilege in the kingdom of God.
Your unoffended reception of the Lord Jesus by faith brings blessing. These blessed ones find great privilege in the kingdom of God.
Benediction
Benediction
